If President Cyril Ramaphosa does not address the Phala Phala scandal “it will remain as a very problematic stain on his reputation as a leader of our movement”.
Addressing the media on Thursday ahead of the ninth provincial conference, party secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli said: “The president has an obligation to respond to those matters. Whether he responds in a court of law or wherever, he has to take the nation into confidence at some point … about the allegations that have been levelled against him.
“Even when we [discussed it] in the national executive committee (NEC), he conceded that at some point he [wants this concluded] because it must not leave a perception of a leader who has got certain things that are not in line with what the ANC expects.”
In April, former spy boss Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case in respect of the burglary that took place at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm.
The president has an obligation to respond to those matters. Whether he responds in a court of law or wherever, he has to take the nation into confidence at some point … about the allegations that have been levelled against him
Mdumiseni Ntuli, ANC KZN secretary
It is unclear whether the president will attend the provincial conference.
Ntuli said Luthuli House informed the KZN ANC that acting secretary-general Paul Mashatile will deliver the opening address when it starts at 10am on Friday.
“The head office will tell us whether the president is coming,” he said, adding that when an invitation is extended to national leaders, it is the secretary-general’s office which decides who will address the conference.
Ntuli said there is no requirement that anyone, including the president, close a provincial conference.
“A conference is closed by the newly elected provincial chairperson. But it does not mean that if the president of our movement becomes available that day… he is then not allowed to attend the conference. If he comes, he comes. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.
Speaking during the SACP national congress in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, last Friday, Ramaphosa said he will appear before the ANC’s integrity commission and is prepared to be held accountable.
“I opted of my own volition to appear before the integrity commission. We were meant to meet a week ago, but the date did not suit everyone.
“We will finalise the date in the coming days … I will not allow these allegations to deter me from what needs to be done to rebuild our economy.”
If Ramaphosa does not attend the opening of the KZN conference, he does so with good reason — he is hosting president Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, who is on a state visit.
However, a source close to the president told TimesLIVE he will attend.
“He is not scared of going to KZN. He doesn’t regard KZN or any part of the country as a no-go area. ANC members are the same in KZN as any of the ANC members around the country.
“Therefore he will have no reason to behave any different with respect to KZN. The commitment and message of renewal and of unity in the ANC is a message that needs to be heard in KZN,” said the source.
On whether the province is concerned about calls for Ramaphosa’s arrest when he arrives in KZN, Ntuli said: “This is not a matter we should be concerned about because the president is in South Africa and wherever he is there are police.”
On those who support Ramaphosa being referred to as Ankole, the name of the rare breed of cattle he keeps on his farm, Ntuli said the aim of this is to further divide KZN.
“Because there are people who survive when the ANC is divided — it’s their way of being relevant because they have nothing to offer — they focus on the negative and associate it with this candidate so [their] candidate can emerge.”
“It’s to create an impression they also own Ankole … Delegates of the ANC are mature and know the quality of leadership that is needed to take us to the next phase. So don’t worry about the Ankoles, they are not worrying us at all … ”
He added: “I think it’s a diversion and an agenda … that wants KZN divided and the work of the counterrevolution. They want us to fight, get divided, lose power and govern by coalition … If you want to defeat the ANC in SA, you need to start in KZN.”
